Department: IT Administration & Finance
Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Based in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern Information Technology is looking for an individual to oversee the finances of the university's telecommunications and networking operation. This position calls for a detail-oriented financial professional who enjoys working with and supporting IT colleagues at all levels of the organization. To be successful, you'll need strong analytical and critical thinking skills, solid written and verbal communication skills, and an innate desire to continuously improve the quality of financial services and information. Familiarity with financial operations in higher education is a plus! In addition to joining a collaborative and hard-working team that values strong relationships, Northwestern employees take advantage of excellent healthcare and retirement benefits as well as generous paid time off. If you feel this could be a great career match, please apply today!

Job Summary:

Reporting to the director of administration and finance for Northwestern University's central information technology division (NUIT), this position is in charge of all daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual financial processes that support the recharge operations of the telecommunications and networking (TNS) department of NUIT

Specific Responsibilities:

• Manage the TNS recharge budget and provide timely and accurate financial reporting to TNS management covering the current fiscal year and planned future years via recurring financial reports and meeting presentations.
• Provide financial guidance to TNS leadership related to university financial processes (budgeting, forecasting, and reporting), and recommend changes to analyses, forecasting, modeling, and reporting to improve the quality and usefulness of financial information provided to operating management to support decisions.
• Develop and implement recharge rates for telecommunications and networking services based on analysis of headcounts and annual costs. Build, maintain, and update associated financial models and analyses, communicate rates to university departments, and coordinate as needed with the university's budget and planning department.
• Use the telecommunications recharge system (CONDUITS) to process and approve charges for telecommunications and network services, and two-way radios, working as needed with TNS staff, technology support staff, and the CONDUITS technical support team.
• Manage relationships with network providers (such as AT&T), including accessing vendor websites and portals for payment purposes and management of fees.
• Processes and/or approves financial transactions for TNS operations.
• Complete all fiscal year close/open processes for recharge operations, coordinating with other financial colleagues in NUIT and the university.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as accounting, business administration, finance, or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 5 years financial, budgeting and/or preparing account reconciliations or financial statements along with financial analysis or other relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to perform advanced spreadsheet and database analyses (e.g., pivot tables, sorts, filters, use of formulae, etc.)
• Keen sense of the need to create "completed staff work" with regard to logical analyses, organization and presentation of data, succinct and clear descriptions and explanations, such that work is ready for presentation at the leadership level of NUIT.
• Ability to clearly communicate with the NU staff (Budget, Accounting, Facilities, financial staff of other schools and departments) on financial matters, but at the same time be able to clearly communicate with non-financial staff in operating departments, translating financial concepts in ways that non-financial staff can understand.
• Adept in using standard office software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite)
• Financial or accounting experience in a higher education institution.
• Strong working knowledge of NU financial systems (NUFinancials, NUPlans, iBUY NU)

Target hiring range for this position will be between $68,000-$97,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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